Trailer Tuesday

Trailer Tuesday in which we try to discuss upcoming movies, movies we have recently watched, movies that are new to video-on-demand, Netflix and Amazon films, AND of course TV (because it’s our favorite). We also focus on inclusion and, of course, women in film –which is especially important to our collective culture.

Out this week in theaters, VOD, streaming, and TV

Jackie, opened last Friday

This is Natalie Portman’s bid for Oscar number 2 and it looks almost as loopy and weird as Black Swan. I really like bio-pics/historical fiction films that focus on one sliver of time as they seem to be weirder and way more interesting. If there is a reason to be thankful for the existence of the Star Wars prequels it’s that Portman made so much money that she has made really interesting film choices. Now I just need to remember that Jane Got a Gun is on Netflix. [Hey, ANOTHER movie that does that sliver of time thing is The End of the Tour! It’s really good! One of the words that has been used to describe Jackie is “weird” so I will definitely see it. It’s not playing in my town yet. I hope the 60s bob makes a comeback. Also of note: more John Hurt! I feel like he is always almost close to becoming well-known again. -M]

All We Had, opens Friday (directed by a woman)

Katie Holmes directed a movie, ya’ll! This actually looks kind of good. The kid might be a little too precocious but who am I kidding I would watch this just for Richard Kind, Judy Greer, and Luke Wilson. [Hell, I’ve watched much less (Red Oaks) just for Richard Kind. MARK CONSUELOS! He doesn’t even need to work, as he’s got all that daytime TV money from Live with Kelly… and yet he still does! GO MARK! -M]

Mozart in the Jungle, season 3, Friday on Amazon Prime

If you have Amazon Prime I demand you watch Mozart in the Jungle and if you don’t have Prime you should get it FOR Mozart in the Jungle. Seriously if you enjoy workplace comedies, classical music, Lola Kirke (the BEST Kirke), and/or appreciate Gael García Bernal this is the show for you. [I agree that Lola Kirke is the best Kirke but Jemima is also excellent on Girls, though everyone is elevated by Adam Driver because he is just amazing. Please watch MITJ! Maybe Katie and I will tweet about season 3 this weekend if you’re good. -M]

What’s coming up

La La Land, December 16, 2016

This movie looks fantastic and I LOVE Ryan Gosling BUT I’m not sure I will ever get over Emma Stone playing an Asian woman in Aloha (also Aloha was a terrible movie). Imagine if you will a world in which this character was played by human delight Anna Kendrick (who can actually sing –it’s not that Emma can’t sing it’s just her voice is so thin, but maybe that’s the point). All of that to say that I will love this movie, it’s a movie musical made the way they are supposed to be made. ALSO John Legend. [She was so great on SNL for the THIRD time! I love love loved Whiplash and I trust Damien Chazelle. My dad loves musicals so he’s pushing for this to be our Christmas Day movie. If I can even wait that long. -M]

Rogue One, December 16, 2016

Let’s praise Kathleen Kennedy for making Star Wars both more diverse and awesomely lady-centric! I bought my ticket and am SO EXCITED! [We have our tickets too–my husband, who does not use as much leave time as I do, is even taking a half day to see it with me! The cast is a dream–seriously every single actor is perfect. I am turning into such a SW fanatic since the movies are good again. I really don’t even want to wait a week and a half. -M]

Fences, December 25, 2016 (directed by a person of color)

All HAIL Viola Davis and Denzel Washington! I can’t really say anything beyond the acting in this trailer looks phenomenal. [Everyone says Viola is a shoo-in for the Oscar, but I would be thrilled to see this get awards attention in multiple categories. It’s the kind of adult, family drama that doesn’t often get made. -M]

Nashville, season 5 premieres, January 5th on CMT

(The first half of the premiere is getting a sneak peak on December 15th)

I’m really thankful CMT picked up Nashville. Living life without Juliette and Avery is just so painful. Also it appears the new showrunners have corrected the shows lack of diversity, now let’s hope they correct the shows issues of character trait flip-flopping and weird story arcs that go nowhere. [Katie and I JUST watched the finale together in October–we didn’t want to watch it because we were so sad it was cancelled. Unfortunately, one black dude does not equal diversity, especially since he’s a “love interest” type and will probably be canned at some point. Strangely, I miss Lyla and Luke. -M]

Taboo, season 1 premiere, Jaunary 10th on FX

I have no real clue as what this is about other than Tom Hardy was thought to be dead and NOW is alive and it’s a period piece BUT I’m going to watch it for: the hats, Oona Chaplin, Michael Kelly, and Tom Hardy’s acting which often amuses me. It’s also on FX, I mean I watched 4 episodes of Tyrant surely I can watch this (Incidentally why did Tyrant get 3 seasons when The Bridge only got 2? Also why are there so many version of The Bridge? I tried to watch the UK/France’s The Tunnel but got bored very quickly.). [The Bridge is so much better than Tyrant. Maybe someone who worked for Tyrant is married to a Fox exec. Anyway, I too don’t really know what’s going on in this trailer, and I’ll definitely watch it, but if Tom Hardy turns out to be another boring masculine anti-hero I will probably give up. On TV AND on feminism. -M]

Big Little Lies, premieres February 19th on HBO

I like a good black comedy about rich people especially if someone gets MURDERED. I am sad that ASkars went back to TV without Pam though, let’s face it she would have been fabulous on this show as a pissed off rich mom –Kristen Bauer von Stratton needs to be in everything! [Laura Dern played Reese’s mom in Wild, so they’re reuniteddddddd. Reese has a delightful Instagram, where she appears to be normal and very cute–she’s posting behind the scenes videos of her new movie on her story. This is a seven-episode miniseries and I am ready for something that 1) is not all dudes and 2) looks more fun than Show Me a Hero. -M]

The actual cast of this is pretty freaking stellar, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Adam Scott, Zoe Kravitz, and SLLS FAVE LAURA DERN! If I have the time in February and it’s seems like it will be easy to tease, I might cover this show (mainly so I can use that gif of ASkars naked that we love to use).

What’s good that you may have missed

Vikings, season 4 part 2 premiered Wednesday, November 30th on History Channel

I initially started watching Vikings because I thought it would be unintentionally funny but was pleasantly surprised when it was really really good. However, I do wish it was on pay cable so that they could say “fuck” instead of “sex” which always sounds weird (or they should do what TBS does with Mr. Robot and just drop the sound when people say “Fuck”). The acting is phenomenal and it does a really good job of showing both the male and female roles in a society we don’t learn much about. You can watch all past seasons on Amazon Prime (they even have season 4, part 1) AND the new season just started so if you can catch that onDemand. [I think I’m still on season 3. Rollo is really hot. I don’t have much else to say except maybe I’ll catch up one day. -M]

This or that

We pick an actor/genre/plot with two similar films available to watch, on TV, streaming, or in theaters and tell you which one is better.

This week, the battle of the Stark brothers! Also, Idris Elba, worlds sexiest man –FUCK YOU PEOPLE! ALSO also both movies have different UK/European titles versus American titles (for some reason MI-5 has been the US name for UK Drama Spooks –I guess we couldn’t figure out that’s slang– and we are too stupid to figure out Bastille Day is a French holiday) and are fun action spy movies.

MI-5 (Spooks: The Greater Good), HBO Go/Now, 56% on Rotten Tomatoes

I have tried to watch the MI-5 (Spooks) TV show multiple times and it’s okay but it never really holds my interest. This movie is a one off movie based around the TV show and was both fun and free. [How have I never heard of this??? -M]

If you want to watch a really good film with Jon Snow let me recommend Testament of Youth which also stars Alicia Vikander which you can see for free with a Starz subscription. It is an amazing film set in WWI based on a memoir by Vera Brittain.

The Take (Bastille Day), rent it anywhere, 47% on Rotten Tomatoes

The Take (Bastille Day) is more comical (or so it tries to be than MI-5), it wants to be serious buddy CIA drama. The other super weird thing about this movie is that it’s English and everyone in it is English BUT to appeal to a wider audience they all have American accents and are in the CIA. It’s good and fun. [I haven’t heard of this either!! These American accents are weird. -M] I don’t think I have seen Robb Stark in anything other than GoT or this so I can’t recommend anything better with him so instead I will use this as a plug for Luther! If you have not watched Luther (why?) you can watch all of it on Netflix, NOW!

After watching that, I want to re-watch Luther –Alice Morgan FTW! [Ruth Wilson is the prettiest. And she is fanfuckingtastic in this show. -M]

Oh and which Stark brother spy movie is worth your time? The Take (Bastille Day), as Idris Elba makes literally everything better. That man is a human charm bomb. I would recommend waiting for it to be free though as it will surely be picked up by Netflix, Hulu, and/or Prime ASAP.

The weird and wacky world of the indie romantic comedy

NEVER FORGET!

Each week we rate the most indiest of indie rom-coms courtesy of Netflix and Amazon (there is so much weird and unintentionally hilarious shit out there) on their watch-ability using the following scale –Katie is more forgiving of romances and Melissa is more forgiving of comedies.

5

This movie looks cute and I am sad no one ever hyped it

4

This movie is perfect for a Saturday when you are doing laundry and want to both watch a movie but also read this weeks Entertainment Weekly

3

This movie was originally created for Hallmark, right?

2

This movie looks terrible and something I will watch in secret at 1 am on a Saturday as my secret shame

1

This movie looks unintentionally hilarious and therefore has become a must see the next time I have nothing to watch at midnight on Friday

Lust For Love, Amazon Prime

Katie – So the last movie we featured in this category was AWFUL so I chose a movie this time around that’s actually something I would watch. Based on the trailer I would give this a 4 in fact I’m kind of surprised I haven’t already watched this on a Saturday while doing laundry and reading EW.

Melissa- I think Katie and I watched this trailer together! The dude is kind of bland, but I like Dichen Lachman, and this reminds me of some of the random indie movies I’ve watched on Netflix while bored and alone. A 4 from me too! Don’t expect to see another one for a while, I hate everything.

Every week month Whenever the hell I feel like it, I post what I have been listening to, watching and reading lately.

Listening

While Tinashe’s last record came out just two years ago, I feel like I have been waiting for ages for Joyride, but we got Nightride instead. It’s another in a long list of challenging R&B records created by a woman that has been released this year.

It’s weird how even when a band releases records on a label you regularly get emails from, you can be completely unaware of them, which is why I discovered Captured Tracks’ EZTV in this powerpop post from Bandcamp. Both this year’s High in Place and 2015’s Calling Out are fantastic.

My Spotify Discover Weekly has been a bit off lately (so many rock dudes with nasally voices, which is not what I listen to AT ALL), but this Tom Brosseau song was a definite hit.

I randomly found Khalid on a Spotify playlist, and while he doesn’t have many songs posted, the few that are available are great.

Future note: I definitely plan to put out a favorite records list this year, and I’m aiming for sometime between the 16th and the 22nd! I always wait to see when other people put theirs out–I don’t want to be too early or too late, either!

Watching

Stop what you’re doing and watch this weird, hilarious “self-help talk show” (really, I have no idea what this is parodying, nor do I care) Womanhood, starring the delightful Aparna Nancherla and Jo Firestone. This is the last episode, so if you want to watch them in order, start with number 12 in this playlist.

Good Behavior tries so hard to be a feminist Justified but it’s more Rizzoli and Isles, which is totally fine with me. I have watched all four available episodes of this show since Monday. It is addictive and wonderful. I spent the first episode wishing Michelle Dockery was Keri Russell but I am at peace with the choice now. Now airing on TNT–all episodes are onDemand.

I was sure PJ would like The Get Down, but we didn’t have much time to watch it until the weekend after Thanksgiving (you know, when I was actively ignoring Gilmore Girls for fear of disappointment). I think the show is terrific, if not a little dopey (those intros with Nas rapping while Daveed Diggs moves his mouth? YIKES), but Shameik Moore is everything. EVERYTHING. Streaming on Netflix.

Don’t listen when people compare Good Girls Revolt to Mad Men. The two shows are nothing alike, besides some of the fashion. The show GGR actually reminds me of the most is, strangely, The Newsroom. Both center around real-life events, and create stories that are likely completely fictional around those events, though it should be noted that GGR is based on a nonfiction book. It’s a little weird to see Silas from Weeds all grown up, but the three female leads (Genevieve Angelson, Anna Camp and Erin Darke) are all fabulous, as are Joy Bryant (future DC congressperson Eleanor Holmes Norton) and Chris Diamantopoulos (Finn Woodhouse, editor of fake Newsweek, News of the Week). Streaming on Amazon Prime.

Reading

For book club we’re reading Phoebe Robinson’s You Can’t Touch My Hair. I love both her podcasts 2 Dope Queens and Sooo Many White Guys, so picking this up was an obvious choice (in fact, I already owned the book when it was selected!). It’s really funny and smart and gives me new things to think about in regards to black culture in America.

Speaking of that very topic, Angela Davis’ 1983 classic Women, Race & Class was mentioned as necessary reading after the election by a lot of people I respect. It’s a little more academic than what I am used to–as soon as I finished grad school I switched to mostly memoirs and pop-py nonfiction (outside of book club)–so it’s a little slow going, though I think it’s definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who wants more insight into the current political climate.

Trailer Tuesday

Trailer Tuesday in which we try to discuss upcoming movies, movies we have recently watched, movies that are new to video-on-demand, Netflix and Amazon films, AND of course TV (because it’s our favorite). We also focus on inclusion and, of course, women in film –which is especially important to our collective culture.

Out this week in theaters, VOD, streaming, and TV

For it’s first season Lovesick was unfortunately titled Scrotal Recall which is a TERRIBLE name especially when this movie is a very charming British comedy about a guy with chlamydia. I implore you to go out and give this one a shot. [I have honestly never watched this because of the awful name but it looks really cute and British! Adding this to queue immediately. -M] UPDATE: I watched all of season 2 this weekend and this show is fabulous. PLEASE watch this show! -K

Moana, out on Thanksgiving (POC Disney princess)

The Rock is People’s sexiest man alive for 2016 he is the only POC other than Denzel Washington to have the title (has Jess Cagel not seen Luther, I mean Idris Elba is the most beautiful man on the planet). SLLS fave Lin Manual Miranda did the music for this so I bet that’s good (a reminder that BOTH In the Heights and Hamilton are on Amazon Prime and Spotify) also I would not be surprised if he doesn’t get an Oscar nomination. If I had a kid I would drag them to this. [Katie, LMM is younger than us and one award away from an EGOT! Yup, he only needs the Oscar. He’s so damn likeable that I would not bet against him. I don’t watch cartoons for children but this seems like a promising way to spend a Sunday afternoon when it comes to cable. -M]

Rules Don’t Apply, out on Thanksgiving

My mom and I have plans to see this on Thanksgiving. Warren Beatty has been out of the spotlight for so long my mother and I were worried but it turns out he was just working on a new movie. This trailer is so zippy. Lily Collins seems cute and I like that she has fully committed to the bob hairstyle (IRL) instead of having long waves and thus making me confuse her with Victoria Jackson and Nina Dobrev. PLUS we should all fall in love with future Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich. [Warren Beatty should not use Dick Tracy to sell any of his future movies. I recently rewatched it and it does NOT hold up. This looks lovely, though, and I love movies about old Hollywood–why I liked Hail, Caesar! more than most. The second I saw the commercial I knew I would be seeing this. -M]

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Netflix, Midnight, Friday, November 25th (created by a woman)

You have like 4 days to drop everything and watch the first 5 seasons of the Gilmore Girls (skip 6 and 7 as they are so fucking bad). If you don’t have that kind of time basically watch season 3 as it is the best OR you can read Vox’s ranking of every episode. Also let’s all be thankful Melissa McCarthy found the time to do a scene cause it’s the only thing to make me laugh-out-loud during this trailer. ALSO ALSO Emily Gilmore in JEANS –hell has frozen over. [I am going to have to try really hard not to watch this on Friday, as my friend is having a watch party on Saturday, so DON’T TEXT ME about what happens, Katie. Maybe I’ll watch Lovesick instead. So even though I loved GG like hell when it was on and own the DVDs and watched every season ten times, I think my love for the show is waning. There better be lots of Kirk, Paris & Doyle to get me excited again. -M]

Lion, out in theaters, on Friday, November 25th

Let’s get one thing out of the way, Dev Patel is ridiculously hot with a beard AND now let’s talk about how this movie will be sad and uplifting like Dev Patel’s breakout film Slumdog Millionaire. Patel plays an young man from India who was adopted by an Australian couple played by Nicole Kidman (who rocks a series of really awesome ginger “mom” wigs which makes me wonder why on earth she feels the need to freeze her face when she will play characters her own age and why won’t she go back to her red locks) and Top of the Lake’s David Wenham (I can’t wait for Top of the Lake season 2 which will also feature Nicole Kidman) after falling asleep on a train in India. This movie is based on a true story and it’s amazingly riveting (click the link if you don’t care if your spoiled). [I don’t usually go for this type of tearjerker–the trailer made me bawl–but I really want Dev Patel to succeed, even though he was in The Newsroom. When Katie mentioned that the dad was played by a guy from Top of the Lake, I REALLY wanted it to be Thomas M. Wright, who was really creepy on season 2 of The Bridge (RIP). -M]

What’s coming up

Hidden Figures

This movie has conflicting opening dates, Wikipedia says Christmas, IMDB says January 6, and the giant poster I saw at the theater said January 13. According to IMDB it will have a limited opening on Christmas (if it’s in my area I’m going), it’s opening in the US on the 6th, and Canada on the 13th, apparently the studio sent out the wrong poster (UGH HOLLYWOOD). Basically what this means is look for this on Christmas and go see it, if it’s not in your area go see it on the 6th, studios need to make more movies like this and they only will if people go see them.

Now about Hidden Figures, as the title suggests it’s about the African-American women who helped NASA in the sixties who have been hidden from history because of our countries continued racism. It stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe as mathematicians who have to fight for respect from thier mostly white male colleagues. It also costars Mahershala Ali who is in Luke Cage and Moonlight in which his role has tons of awards buzz. It is PG which means you can bring your children and old people. The trailer will make you both laugh and cry. [I almost suggested reading this for book club. This is one of my most anticipated movies of awards season–I need uplifting, you know? -M]

What’s good that you may have missed

Sing Street, Netflix

I will be upfront with you dear readers I think writer/director John Carney needs to work on his ability to write female characters and improve the way he treats actresses. However, despite the fact that it’s leading lady skews very closely to a manic-pixie-dream-girl Sing Street is still a fun and poppy ode to eighties music. [Everyone keeps recommending this, and while I think I will like it, I am still angry at how badly Keira Knightly’s character in Begin Again was written. I mean, she wants to be a songwriter, but there is no mention of any female songwriter (not Carole King or Jenny Lewis or anyone) and there’s only male singers that play in the background (besides Knightly’s character). I will never stop harping on this. Sigh. I will probably end up watching Sing Street this week. -M]

Fleabag, Amazon Prime (created by a woman)

Written and created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag is a rare show in which it made me laugh out loud and cry (sometimes at the same time). If you have not watched it yet you should (it’s only 6 half hour episodes) and if you have seen it and want to discuss it please comment. There is just so much to talk about, how the viewer becomes her confidant, the relationship she has to her sister, Olivia Colman as an evil step-mother, the banker, feminist workshops and being a bad feminist, oh so many things there is just so much with this show. [I’ve only seen the first three and LOVED them. It’s hard to watch and I cried a lot. Bonus actor: the delightful Brett Gelman, who is fantastic in everything, including the late, great Go On (I am legally obligated to mention this show every time an alumnus is in something else). -M]

This or that

We pick an actor/genre/plot with two similar films available to watch, on TV, streaming, or in theaters and tell you which one is better.

This week Sam Claflin (AKA Finnick Odair) who stars in not one but two chick-lit movie adaptations. NOTE: my synopsis of each movie might seem spoilery but basically this is what goes down in the trailer. Also your TV obsessed ten year old kid/niece/nephew/neighbor can spell-out these plot points after watching the first 15 minutes.

Me Before You, you can rent it on iTunes, Amazon, or onDemand (directed by a woman)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 58% (way too high)

The “I’m going to make you fall in love with me before I kill myself because I can’t accept life in a wheelchair BUT it’s cool cause I’m rich and I will leave you with the means to find a life outside of your poor fucked up BUT really loving family” romantic tragicomedy co-staring Emilia Clarke. This movie reminded me a lot of the Kate Hudson terminal cancer rom-com, A Little Bit of Heaven, both films suffer from severe tone issues. In neither movie do they ignore the terminal cancer/depression but they present these really not comedic elements with a rom-com glow that just makes everything seem fucked up and surreal. I think the point of this movie –based primarily off the title– is that he is supposed to push her to become something more than she is (unmotivated shop girl) because she met him which is very problematic in it’s own right but add to that the fact that he has decided to go to Switzerland where they will assist him in death (to be clear I am a firm believer in assisted suicide but do not look to this movie for a nuanced take on that issue) because he used to be extremely sporty and is now paralyzed. Considering that this film actually has the two fall in love and find happiness it’s completely fucked up when he reasserts his desire to die (which is a personal affront to those whom are paralyzed and to those who have serious debilitating or terminal illnesses). At one point I yelled at the TV, have him watch Friday Night Lights because Jason Street handles paralysis far more maturely than this dude and he was a child. I have no idea how this movie made so much money. [I read the Wikipedia synopsis of Me Before You when it came out, which solidified my decision to never ever watch it. It sounds much more fucked up and awful than I could have imagined. Katie is a saint for watching this crap. -M]

Love, Rosie, Amazon Prime (screenplay by a woman)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%

The “we were best friends from childhood but I was WAY TOO DRUNK that one time in high school you made a move to remember it AND you were too stupid to not bring it up so I had a child after a condom got lodged in my vagina and you moved to America and became a doctor and we both married other people BUT eventually we realize that WE ARE SOULMATES cause you FINALLY bring up that one time you made a move and now realize I was too drunk to remember” romantic comedy (nothing really tragic happens in this one) costarring Lily Collins. This movie was directed by the same dude, Christian Ditter, who directed How to be Single which is one of the weirdest movies I have recently seen (there are characters and storylines in that movie that just don’t fit or are necessary). This movie is breezily charming, it is literally exactly what you think it will be. [This sounds kind of dumb but also better than both Me Before You and How to be Single, which I liked a lot less than Katie. Plus I don’t have to pay for this one and I would for Me Before You. I am cheap. -M]

Which one should you spend your hard earned free-time on…

Love, Rosie as it is free on Amazon Prime AND it isn’t problematic or annoying like Me Before You. Also Love, Rosie is light and fun and Me Before You will leave you an angry mess. [FREE IS BETTER, always. -M]

The weird and wacky world of the indie romantic comedy

Each week we rate the most indiest of indie rom-coms courtesy of Netflix and Amazon on their watch-ability using the following scale –Katie is more forgiving of romances and Melissa is more forgiving of comedies.

5

This movie looks cute and I am sad no one ever hyped it

4

This movie is perfect for a Saturday when you are doing laundry and want to both watch a movie but also read this weeks Entertainment Weekly

3

This movie was originally created for Hallmark, right?

2

This movie looks terrible and something I will watch in secret at 1 am on a Saturday as my secret shame

1

This movie looks unintentionally hilarious and therefore has become a must see the next time I have nothing to watch at midnight on Friday

Mr. Engagement, Amazon Prime

Katie: I give this a 1 and amend to say I would have to be very drunk to watch this. I will admit that the trailer did make me laugh but in a laugh at not with kind of way (I really want a gif of that dudes reaction when he gets CLEARLY stage-punched in the face).

We may not have the most readers but we have the best! This is so great! Thank you again A!

Melissa: Can I give something a 0? Or a negative? I would not watch this sexist pile of garbage unless I was completely wasted and at Katie’s house and we had already watched everything else.